Window guard



June 16, 1953 1 MONTEFUSCO WINDOW GUARlj 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1950 x a: Z

W 1 3 Y WM -y M/ 2 m INVENTOR MICHAEL T. MONTBFUSCQ Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE WINDOW GUARD Michael M'ontefusco, Brooklyn, N. Y. ApplicationAugust 22, 1950, Serial No. 180,720"

4- Claims. (01. 160-461) vide a. window guard as abovealltheiparts off which are permanently interconnected, yet one which, nevertheless, is so constructed that instal-- lation and expansion of the guard in a window frame openingmay be. quickly and easily accomplished. I

A furtherspecific. object is .to provide'a window guard'having the foregoing advantages, and one which, also, after installation and expansion as aforesaid, islocked so securely in place as to. afford. an insurancereliably to be depended on to defeat any attempts of a small child, accidentally or deliberately, and by strength andv ingenuity, to move the guard toward collapse and consequently toward a condition to permit removal' ofv the guard or any part of it from the window opening. I]

Another object of the. invention is to provide a window guard which while having, among.

others, all the advantages already stated," shallbe relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be of rugged and enduring construction, and which atlthe same time shall be compactly collapsible for advantageous storage. at the factory, warehouse or the like, during shipment, and, in the home between uses. 1

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and'advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying-drawings, and to theappended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a mate rial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an approved embodiment of the invention, in expanded condi#- tion.

Fig. 2 shows the guard of Fig. 1 in fully collapsed condition.

Fig. 3, is, on a reduced scale, an elevational inside view of a window and window frame, with the guard expanded and secured in the window opening.

Fig. 4 illustrateshow thenguard is partially collapsed preparatory to removing the same, this view fragmentarily showing said window installation, with the lower, inner sash now fully raised prior to and for permitting said partial collapse of the guard. I

Fig. 5 is, on a scale-enlarged over that of Figs.

3 and l, a horizontal section takenon the line 5 5 of Fig.13.

Fig; 6 is a fragmentary detail view, this being a vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5". Fig. 7 is'a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating' the window guard constructed in accordancewith a modification of the present invention.

Fig; 8 is an enlarged partial horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view per se of the slide" member-used on the right-hand side of the window guard.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged partial horizontal sectional view taken on the line i l-H of Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view, per se, of the fixed member used on the left-hand'side of the window guard.

The window guard, according to the first form of' the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, includes a plurality of elongate units so interpivoted that when the guard is expanded as in Figs. 1., 3 and 5, a plurality of said units are horizontally extended at different levels and another pluralityof said units are vertically extended at uniformly spaced intervals and crossingly of said horizontal units.

' Referring now' to the drawings more in detail,

the new window guard is illustratively' shown as having two of said horizontal units, the upperone of which includes a pair of sidewisely aligned bars "land H. of equal. length, and the lower. one of which includes a pair of sidewiselyaligned bars [2. and I4 of equal length and ashaving five ormore vertical'slats I5.

All the bars H], H, !2, I4 and the slats [5 are shown as andmay conveniently be of rectangular cross-section, and they may be made of any suitable material selected, as wood. The vertical slats l5 are all of square cross-section. The horizontal bars H), H, [land [4 are also all alike; except that, preferably, for a. reasonto become clear later, the bars I,2. and, l !v included in the lower horizontal unit are somewhat longer than the bars l0 and H included in the upper horizontal unit. v

In the upper horizontal unit the bars l 0 and l l are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of a side of the slats I5; and in the lower horizontal unit the bars l2 and M are spaced apart the same distance. Between the bars l and II and also between the bars 12 and M the slats are interposed; each of said slats being interpivoted at a rivet [6 with the bars H! and II and at a rivet I! with the bars l2 and [4. These rivets may well be the familiar steel rivets used as pivoting elements between various structural members of lawn swings and other outdoor furniture articles of collapsible nature.

Secured as by screws as indicated at f8 to each of the opposite ends of the upper horizontal unit ||l||, is a spring member I9. Each of these members I9 is plate-like in form, having across one end a line of teeth this tooth carrying end of a spring member [9 being the end thereof projected beyond the end of the unit Ill-l to which that member I9 is secured. Said members l9 are highly resilient leaf springs, made of a non-ferrous metal, as, for example, spring brass, or, preferably, beryllium copper; since the latter, while like other non-ferrous metals non-rusting, is so exceptionally resilient that it has a modulus of elasticity several times that of the finest spring steel.

A standard window and window frame installation includes, as shown in Figs-3, 4 and 5, a window frame 2| including a bottom sill 22, frame sides or jambs 23, an upper, outer sliding sash 24, and an inner, lower sliding sash 25. In each side frame is an inner stop 26, a guide strip 27, and an outer stop 28. Between the stops 26 and said strips 21 is the slideway for the lower sash 25, and between the stops 28 and said strips is the slideway for the upper sash.

To place and secure the guard in the window opening as shown in Fig. 3, all that is required is to raise the lower sash to its upward limit of movement to arrange the same as shown in Fig. 4 thus to increase to the maximum possible the window opening; then with the guard partially expanded as in Fig. 4 and in the window opening in line with the slideway for the lower sash 25 between the stops 26 and the guide strips 21, further to expand the guard until the same, reaching its maximum possible expansion as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, has each of the ends of its lower horizontal unit |2|'4 thrust deep all the way into the space between the stop 26 and the guide strip 21 at that side of the window opening; and then, finally, to lower the lower sash 25 until its bottom comes to rest on the tops of the slats l5 as shown in Fig. 3.

Concurrently with the thrusting of the opposite ends of the lower horizontal unit including the bar |2 into said spaces between the stops 2B and the strips 21, the two leaf springs H! become arranged in said spaces as indicated in Fig. 5 and as more clearly shown, in the case of one of said springs, in Fig. 6.

As will be noted from the last-named view, said spring along its projected portion has been forced to a curvature so as upwardly to approach at a fairly sharp angle the bottom of a slideway space between a stop 26 and a strip 21, with the teeth 20 of that spring ready to dig lightly into the window-frame side the instant there is manually applied to the guard an upthrust at a time when the horizontal units of the guard are restrained against free upward inclination to the oblique as in Fig. 4.

But the lower sash 25, when arranged as in Fig. 3, and hence resting on top of the slats l5.

adds by its down pressure a force tending to combat any such upward inclination of the horizontal units of the guard. It would only be a small child who would accidentally or deliberately be the source of a muscular effort to app y an upthrust to the guard when in place as in Fig. 3; but the strength of a small child would not be sufiicient to overcome the down pressure of the lower sash 25 by way of an upthrust resulting from an upward inclination of one of the horizontal units of the guard. In this connection, it is to be noted that the efiective application of such upthrust against the bottom of said sash would be far to one side of the sash, that is, at the top of the slat I5 at the extreme right or at the extreme left in Fig. 3.

The only way to remove the guard from the window opening is first to raise the lower sash 25 as in Fig. 4, and then partially collapse the guard as shown in that View. As has already been stated, when the guard is in place as in Fig. 3 the ends of the lower horizontal unit are trapped between the stops 26 and the guide strips 217, and the arched portions of the leaf springs l9 beyond the ends of the upper horizontal unit are also trapped between the said stops and the said strips.

If beryllium copper, forexample, were used for the springs 29, their free but highly elastic flexibility would be such that the bars I!) and II could well be longer than as indicated in the drawing, say aslong as the width of the win dow opening plus the height of a stop 26. Then, incidental to final placement of the guard in the window opening as in Fig. ,4, and the attainment of equilibrium of tension as between the identical springs I9, the opposite ends of the upper horizontal unit |0I I would each become inserted in the space between a stop 26 and the adjacent strip 21 to the extent of half the depth of such space.

Ordinarily, as will be understood, the teeth 20 of neither spring ['9 will dig at all into a window-frame side; so there will be no difficulty in ever disengaging one spring l9 or the other from the adjacent window-frame side as a first preliminary, once the sash 25 has been raised all the way, to starting relative movements of the guard toward partial collapse thereof. Once even a very slight partial collapse of the guard is effected, the spring l9 other than the one first disengaged from the window frame may be equally easily or even more easily disengaged from the window frame. a

In the construction of the modification of the invention shown in Figs. '7 to 12, the window guard differs only in the means for anchorin the guard in position beneath the lower edge of the lower sash 25 of the open window.

The anchoring means of this modification of the invention is comprised of small angle irons 30 and 3| which are secured permanently to the inner faces of the guide strips 21 by means of small screws 32. The angle irons 35 and 3| being secured to the guide strips 21 are out of the way and do not interfere with sliding movements of the sashes 24 and 25. The angle irons 30 and 3| are secured to theguide strips 21 to be spaced just slightly above the top edges of the sidewisely aligned top bars l0 and H, see Figs. '7 and 9.

The left-hand ends of the top bars l0 and. II carry a fixed member 33 provided at its outer side with an outwardly projected lug 34 for engagement beneath the angle iron 30 for securingthe left end of" the" window guard} against upward. movement. The fixed member 33' is formedof' sheet metal and has its sides. 35 extendeddownwardralong the inner? and outer faces of the bars l and I! and bent: therebeneath. The fixed member 33 is secured in position bymeans of a rivet 36. which is passed. through-aligned holes 31 formed in the dependingv sides of the member and. through the bars 0. and H.

At the right-hand ends, the top bars Land l l oarrya slidable member 38 provided at" its outer side with an outwardl projected lug 39 for engagement beneath the. an le iron 3 i to releasably secure the right-hand end of the window guard in position against upward movement. The slidablemember 38 is also formed of sheet metal and has depending sides 40 which extend along the outer faces of the bars it and H. continue into inwardly directed bottom edge portions 4! engaged beneath the bottom edgesof the 4 bars I 0 and H slidably retaining the slidable member 38 in position on the ends of the bars I ll Resilient means is provided in Connection with the slidable membertt for retaining the lug 3 9- t mounted across the outer ends of the bars. IE3

and H. a

Normally, the contractionspring M urges the slidable member 38 outward on the bars it. and

II so that its lug 39 will be retained in position beneath the angle iron 3| retaining the window guard operativelyin positionbeneath the open innersash 25. However, the slidable member 38 can be gripped in ones fingers and pulled against the action of the contraction spring 44 disengaging the lug 39 from beneath the angle iron 3|. In that position the right-hand end of the window guard is free to be pivoted upward causing the lug 3d of the fixed member 33 to be withdrawn from beneath the angle iron 30 freeing the window guard to be completely removed from the window frame. 7

In all other respects the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. '7 to 12 is similar to that described'in connection with Figs. 1 to 6 and like reference numerals are used throughout to identify like parts.

On the drawings, the window guards are illustrated mounted in position within the tracks for the inner or lower sash 25, but it is appreciated that the sam can be mounted in the tracks for the outer or upper sash 2 3. In the latter position of the guards it is possible to effect a. greater closing of the inner sash with the guard still in position protecting the open portion of the window. In mounting the window guard illustrated in Figs. 7 to 12 in the tracks for the outer sash it is necessary that the guard be turned end for end so that the slidable member 38 is located at the left side of the window frame with the lugs 3t and 3S directed inward to be engaged beneath the angle irons and 3|.

While I have illustrated and described the pre ferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and. modificationscom ing within the scope of the invention as defined in the'appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What. I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. ma collapsible window guard, a grating comprising a plurality of slats, and pairs of rigid elongate structures each pair forming an elongate unit, each of said units being pivotally connected to all of said slats, the points of such pivotal connections being uniformly spaced along said units and also uniformly spaced along said slats whereby thewindow guard may be expanded to dispose all said slats vertically and at thesame time to dispose both elongate structures horizontally with one at a higher level and the other at a lower level, said points of'said pivotal connec tions being uniformly spaced along both said i: elongate units thereby uniformly spacing said slats when the window guard is expanded as aforesaid, each of said elongate structures being of a length substantially equal to the lateral width of the window sash whereby when the window guard is placed in an opening in a slidingsash window installation wherein said opening is of a prevised width and the guard is expanded as aforesaid-below a raised sliding sash of said installation, the opposite end portions of both said elongate structures are projected into the sl'ideway spaces for saidraised sash, each of said slats being of the'same length so that when the window guard is expanded as. aforesaid the tops of the slats are horizontally aligned and consequently the bottoms of the slats are also horizons tally aligned, and means on. saidelongate upper structure for. resiliently retaining said structure in operative position. beneath the sliding sash.

2. In a collapsible window guard, a grating comprising a plurality of slats, and. pairs of elongate, structures each pair forming an. elongate unit, each of said units being pivotally connected to all of said slats, the points of such pivotal connections being uniformly spaced along said units and also uniformly spaced along said slats whereby the window guard may be expanded to dispose all said slats vertically and at the same time to dispose both elongate structures horizontally with one at a higher level and the other at a lower level, said points of said pivotal connections being uniformly spaced along both said elongate units thereby uniformly spacing said slats when th window guard is expanded as aforesaid, each of said elongate structures being of a length substantially equal to the lateral width of the window sash whereby, when the window guard is placed in an opening in a slidingsash window installation wherein said opening is of a prevised width and the guard is expanded as aforesaid below a raised sliding sash of said installation, the opposite end portions of both said elongate structures are projected into the slideway spaces for said raised sash, angle irons mounted on'the guide strips of the window installation at elevations slightly above the upper elongate unit, members mountedon the ends of said upper elongate unit, and lugs projecting from said members and engaging said angle irons retaining the window guard removably in position.

3. In a collapsible window guard, a grating comprising a plurality of slats, and pairs of elongate structures each pair forming an elongate unit, each of said units being pivotally connected to all of said slats, the points of such pivotal connections being uniformly spaced along said units and also uniformly spaced along said slats whereby the window guard may be expanded to dispose all said slats vertically and at the same time to dispose both elongate structures horizontally with one at a higher level and the other at a lower level, said points of said pivotal connections being uniformly spaced along both said elongate units thereby uniformly spacing said slats when the window guard is expanded as aforesaid, each of said elongate structures being of a length substantially equal to the lateral width of the window sash whereby,

when the window guard is placed in an opening in a sliding-sash Window installation wherein said opening is of a prevised width and the guard is expanded as aforesaid below a raised sliding sash of said installation, the opposite end portions of both said elongate structures are projected into the slideway spaces for said raised sash, angle irons mounted on the guide strips of the window installation at elevations slightly above the upper elongate unit, members mounted on the ends of said upper elongate unit, and lugs projecting from said members and enga ing said angle irons retaining the window guard removably in position, one of said members being fixed in position and the other being slidably mounted on the upper elongate unit to be movable relative thereto to disengage its lug from the associated angle iron freeing the window guard to be removed.

4. In a collapsible window guard, a grating comprising a plurality of slats, and pairs of elongate structures each pair forming an elongate unit, each of said units being pivotally connected to all of said slats, the points of such,

pivotal connections being uniformly spaced along said units and also uniformly spaced along said slats whereby the window guard may be expanded to dispose all said slats vertically and at the same time to dispose both elongate structures horizontally with one at a higher level andthe other at a lower level, said points of said pivotal connections being uniformly spaced along both said elongate units'thereby' uniformly spacing said slats when the window guard is expanded as aforesaid, each of said elongate structures being of a length substantially equal to the lateral width of the window sash whereby, when the window guard is placed in an opening in a sliding-sash window installation wherein said opening is of a prevised width and the guard is expanded as aforesaid below a raised sliding sash of said installation, the opposite end portions of both said elongate structures are projected into the slideway spaces for said raised sash, angle irons mounted on the guide strips of the window installation at elevations slightly above the upper elongate unit, members mounted on the ends of said upper elongate unit, and lugs projecting from said members and engaging said angle irons retaining the window guard removably in position, one of said members being fixed in position and the other being slidably mounted on the upper elongate unit to be movable relative thereto to disengage its lug from the associated angle iron freeing the window guard to be removed, said slidably mounted member being resiliently retained in a position in which its lug will'be engaged beneath the associated angle iron.

lVIICI-IAEL T. MONTEFUSCO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 275,557 Williams Apr. 10, 1883 570,713 Pardee Nov. 3, 1896 1,091,652 Hall Mar. 31, 1914 1,419,013 Burgess June 6, 1922 1,532,769 McElroy Apr. 7, 1925 2,346,111 MacKenzie Apr. 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 221,670 Germany May 4, 1910 

